The recent imposed of tariffs on products originating from China has raised concerns among pool and spa professionals about potential increases in the prices of chemicals and equipment.
Tariffs are taxes imposed on imported goods and products, paid by importers in the receiving country and often passed on to the consumer.
The intended effect is to drive the market toward cheaper alternatives, ideally within the domestic sector. The new tariffs include a 10-percent duty on all imports from China, with additional tariffs on specific products.
And this is almost sure to raise prices within the pool and spa industry in the U.S., which relies heavily on imported components and chemicals, many of which are sourced from China.
For example, cyanuric acid, a key chemical in pool maintenance, is imported in significant quantities from China, making up a notable portion of the U.S. supply. According to a 2020 report from the U.S. International Trade Commission, the largest amount of imported chlorinated isocyanurates (trichlor and dichlor) come from China. From 2014 to 2018 (the most recent data available), China accounted for 31.3 percent in tonnage of U.S. imported isocyanurates.
C u r r e n t l y, pool indust r y professionals are paying about $165 for a 50-pound bucket of trichlor — more than double the pre-pandemic cost.
An additional 10-percent tariff on this chemical could push the price to above $180.
That’s why industry experts are warning that these tariffs could disrupt supply chains and lead to price hikes for both equipment and maintenance services. Increased costs may impact the affordability of pool ownership and especially maintenance, potentially decreasing demand for such services.
But the new administration’s 'America First Trade Policy,' designed to benefit American workers, aims to counter currency manipulation and identify trading partners with unfair competitive advantages in international trade. In 2019, the Trump administration labeled China a currency manipulator. And in December 2024, Peter Navarro, the senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, reiterated the idea, stating, 'I don't believe the Trump Treasury Department would welcome Chinese currency manipulation very fondly. The history of China as a currency manipulator is well-known.'
Regarding China’s history with exporting chlorinated isocyanurates, this accusation appears to hold merit.
For decades, the three major domestic manufacturers of chlorinated isocyanurates (BioLab, Clearon Corporation, “Clearon,” and Occidental Chemical Corporation, “OxyChem”) have filed petitions alleging that imports of chlorinated isos from China were being sold at less than fair value in the U.S. market and that the domestic industry was injured. Over the years, investigating commissions have determined that the U.S. industry that produces chlorinated isocyanurates were materially injured by reason of subject imports from China and have issued antidumping duty orders on subject imports from China.
As recently as February 18, 2025, officials with the International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce determined that chlorinated isocyanurates from China were being sold at less than fair value. The department concluded that China was “dumping” cheap trichlor and dichlor into the U.S., implicating two Chinese chlorine manufacturers that are selling shock and tabs at roughly 10 percent less than the same chemicals manufactured in the U.S.
And in a more extensive fiveyear review conducted by the U.S. International Trade Commission, officials found a consistent pattern of underselling tabs and shock between 2014 and 2018, and by much larger dumping margins. They concluded that, if left unchecked, this pattern would continue.
The recently imposed tariffs are an attempt to prevent China from flooding global markets with cheap, heavily subsidized exports, while undercutting domestic suppliers. But make no mistake:Prices will most likely go up.
